Laser pointed at police Eagle helicopter sent to monitor Mongrel Mob gang tangi

The tangi for Mongrel Mob veteran leader Sonny Smith has ended in Central Hawke’s Bay with police saying there had been no significant issues for the dozens of police monitoring the gathering of an estimated 1000 gang members who gathered in the region.

Police had about 80 officers from Hawke’s Bay and other districts “working on the ground” in Central Hawke’s Bay, assisted by the police Eagle helicopter, said Hastings-based Eastern Police District commander Superintendent Jeanette Park, soon after the tangi ended at a marae east of Waipawa.

The Herald reported it understood Smith was being be interred in a purpose-built mausoleum at Te Tapairu Marae, along with his treasured Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Several officers undertook liaison with the whānau to understand timings and movements of mourners, and a significant amount of reassurance work had been carried out by police who had been visiting local businesses and speaking to members of the community, all well received by Central Hawke’s Bay residents, she said.

There had also been other “pro-active activity” over recent days, including road policing checkpoints and approximately 200 traffic stops over the previous 24 hours, leading to a small number of arrests over the last five days, but these did not relate to the tangi “directly” and were rather for offending such as breach of bail conditions.

“There was some minor traffic congestion on State Highway 2 near Waipawa as mourners arrived and departed, however there were no significant hold-ups for members of the public,” said Park, who has been district commander since late 2020.

Police are keeping a close eye on those attending the tangi in Hawke's Bay. Photo / Warren Buckland

A large Mongrel Mob procession in Central Hawke's Bay as part of the Notorious chapter's national leader Sonny Smith's tangi. Photo / NZME

Earlier, police reported a man had been formally warned by police after pointing a laser at the police Eagle helicopter from an address in Hastings, about 40km north of Waipawa.

As well as monitoring movements around the tangi and CHB gathering the helicopter has been seen flying regularly over suburbs of Hastings and Napier. It happened about 8.50pm on Monday.

Police told Hawke’s Bay Today the helicopter would remain in the area at least until Wednesday.

A Hastings man has been formally warned after pointing a laser at the Police Eagle helicopter.

“Eagle’s onboard technology was able to clearly capture the person in the act, and instantly identified the address,” police said.

“Eagle then monitored the person until ground units arrived.

“Officers spoke to the person and issued him with a formal warning.”

Police said lasering any aircraft in flight was “extremely dangerous” and put lives at risk. Police investigated every single lasering incident and would not hesitate to lay charges where appropriate.

Police did not specify if the person involved in the laser incident had any relationship with the Mongrel Mob.

A member of the public on Waipawa’s main street said he’d been impressed by both police and gang members in town for the tangi.

Police are keeping a close eye on those attending the tangi. Photo / Warren Buckland

He said Mongrel Mob members had been coming in “in large numbers”, but had been very quiet, polite and respectful.

The man praised the efforts of police who “have been doing what they said they were going to do”.

”They’ve been all over the place. All night and all day, they’ve been non-bloody-stop. It’s been good to see, they’ve actually been very proactive.

”They’ve been checking for alcohol, people driving with alcohol, checking all the vehicles. Checkpoints set up and very visible.”

A police spokesperson this morning said there had been no issues surrounding the tangi and the behaviour of those attending up to this point.